Sudden Visit
People said.
It was hard to start something.
But once you got past that first time, doing it twice or three times was no big deal.
This was no exception even for the memory seal that had been on Seowoo.
The brain that had already gotten into the flow couldn't stop.
Recreating past actions based on a sense of déjà vu.
Bloodsucking starting at a time that didn't deviate much from the usual.
A very slight sense of foreignness was enough.
⋯⋯Ah.
At the same time as this very small realization, a wave of dizziness hit Seowoo's mind.
Lucia, who always maintained her usual composure, had drunk more blood than usual today—why was she so excited?
Thud.
As the power that had been supporting her gave way, Seowoo's body collapsed onto the bed.
His consciousness was hazy, like drunk.
The past that suddenly resurfaced seemed blurry before his eyes.
That day, it was probably the same bedroom and the same bed.
Just before his eyelids closed.
His eyes, deep like the depths of the sea, were locked on Lucia.
Absolutely⋯⋯ it won't be as you wish⋯⋯.
Without knowing what he was saying, Seowoo's consciousness cut off.
The blade he carelessly left behind precisely dug deep into Lucia's heart.
⋯⋯.
When Seowoo fell, she was startled and hurriedly stopped the bloodsucking.
Lucia, riding on his body, had a dazed expression.
The one who had been intoxicated with consciousness was gone; only she, who had been sentenced to farewell, remained powerless.
Seowoo⋯ Please, don't say something like that to me⋯⋯.
Lucia hugged the unconscious him tightly.
Her ash-gray hair covered Seowoo's body.
She regretted it.
The past where she had tried to do as she pleased with him arrogantly.
She was heartbroken.
The fact that she couldn't change the past.
One couldn't seal a person's memories forever.
Just as humans couldn't defy time, enlightenment was also governed by the principles of nature.
⋯⋯Seowoo, when I see you, my heart hurts so much⋯ Even though I'm a vampire, I don't feel pain⋯ It's more painful than tearing my heart apart⋯ I'm going to go crazy⋯⋯.
Tears.
That was an emotion called a luxury for vampires.
For those who live feeling joy, ecstasy, and pleasure, sadness was close to an unknown territory.
Especially for those close to high ranks without crises, that tendency stood out more.
Even if they tore at their chest with nails and tore their flesh, the pain like thirst wasn't relieved.
Even if they threw out pleading words, there was no echo.
It seemed that only his firmly closed eyes and lips represented his heart, making it even more painful.
The words he had just said.
It was like recalling the Yoon Seowoo from three years ago.
Aah⋯⋯.
A sigh escaped.
Even though the future was already set, the process to reach the result was too painful.
No, no.
He had just said it wouldn't be as he wished, right?
What should I do?
Is going like this the right way?
The more I thought, the more my head spun.
⋯⋯No.
The words just now were like sleep-talking.
Yeah, without realizing it, he had secreted some anesthetic substance and said something weird.
Otherwise, it couldn't be explained.
Why? Just a few moments ago, hadn't we been dancing the waltz together at the ball?
Yes.
Seowoo had definitely been opening his heart a little bit.
A sinister and twisted smile formed on Lucia's lips.
⋯⋯It will be okay. I'll prepare a place for you.
***
Slowly, her eyes opened.
As expected, the familiar ceiling came into view.
Seowoo, clutching his head, sat up on Lucia's bed.
There was no presence felt around.
It hadn't been long since the time, and the tingling sensation on his nape remained.
From the vague memories, it seemed he had muttered something like a soliloquy and lost consciousness.
It seemed like something dramatic had come to mind.
⋯⋯Yeah.
It felt like something big had happened here before.
Ugh.
His head throbbed.
This felt like a simple stress headache rather than a side effect of recalling memories.
Unlike the way memories were recalled with noise, interrupting in the middle, this had the difference of only accompanying pain.
⋯⋯Let's recall it slowly.
After taking one deep breath, I tried to go back in time.
I probed the sensations I had felt while drinking blood from Lucia.
Fragmented memories flashed by quickly.
Myself talking to Lucia, who had covered her face with a handkerchief in the office.
Her showing a pure admiration.
The conflict that arose in the scene leading to the bedroom.
Even if not perfect, the unpleasant feeling of bad vibes rising from above.
⋯⋯I know one thing at least, even if I don't know the others.
That the first meeting with Lucia was the worst.
And I could instinctively feel it.
What the last key to fill this memory gap was.
Hah⋯ The lamp under the lamp is dark.
The answer was always close, but it was funny.
Long ago, if I swallowed the blood capsule Lucia gave me, everything would be solved.
The genetic information of cells in the blood would resonate with magic and naturally surface.
But, it might have been fortunate that I hadn't recalled it yet.
The hatred that boiled from the depths of memory was something Seowoo himself couldn't easily endure.
Uncontrollable emotions are poison.
Seowoo, sensing the storm approaching, promised to put off the unrecovered memories for a while.
***
The hair glowing green fluttered in the wind.
The steam rising from the tea shattered instantly.
When I took a sip of the tea, the aroma of fruit and flowers filled my nostrils.
⋯⋯Boring.
The Ceylon family, which handles one axis of Nectar.
Faye, the illegitimate daughter of the branch family, was sitting on the terrace having tea time.
People who approached for money or background got tired of it.
Instead of associating with people, the magic she had practiced so fun was no longer developing.
It was a period equivalent to the doldrums of life.
It was fate that she met at the ball she went to because she was nagged by the family too much.
It was a story like a novel, wasn't it?
It wasn't an exaggeration to say there was no Cinderella.
Meeting a wonderful prince(?) at the ball where he arrived by magitech train instead of carriage.
Of course, if the human he met before was a blemish, then it was.
But, who is Faye Ceylon?
Magic was magic, but in the end, the best in the world.
Because she had already set up subordinates to find out who that human was somehow.
At the moment he said "boring", wasn't a notification flying?
Faye-nim, I have investigated the human you entrusted to me before.
Really? Give it to me quickly. I was waiting anyway.
To punish that despicable guy who made her fall and ran away, this body would burn.
While quickly flipping the pages, Faye scanned Seowoo's information and opened her mouth again.
Contact the Ambrosia Research Institute! I'll visit within an hour!
⋯⋯Understood.
The Arus of the Earlgrey family who met at the ball and the human Yoon Seowoo worked at the same place!
As expected, this was fate given by the heavens.
Catch the crayfish while digging the ditch.
Eat the pheasant and the eggs.
It wasn't a person who could miss such a one-stone-two-bird opportunity, a genius opportunity.
No other news?
⋯⋯That is, the nameplate I gave to the person I liked last time.
Yeah, so?
It says it was used once a few days ago.
Huu~ Really?
Isn't it that he actively used it like this, meaning he also has feelings for herself?
Faye let out a whistle.
It was rare to match so perfectly.
The feeling of vertical rise like a roller coaster, she didn't know it would come down.
I'll give you the money as requested. Call the most skilled coordinator in Nectar!
Understood.
Even if you go to the research institute, which is like a pigsty stained with human smell, the real elite has to care about fashion.
Ah, and prepare something to bring as a gift to the research institute! No time, hurry!
It seemed impolite to go empty-handed, so high-end alcohol or fruit was essential.
She, who had her pride tightly wrapped, couldn't show such vulgarity.
With the fast time of one hour, Faye had done all the dressing up.
Her overflowing elegant dignity raised her hand in the air.
Open.
A crack appeared in the air.
Like a glass crack, it split open instantly, creating a spatial gap.
The blue light bursting out from the void was the unique magic of the Ceylon family that jumps between dimensions.
Convey it to the family head well. Got it? Then I'll go!
With words equivalent to a notice, Faye threw her body into the gap in the air.